Pristina Travel Forum

Hi,
i plan to spend this weekend in Pristina, but i haven't got the time to organize anything.
Could somebody reccommend me a place with a good spirit , to spend a night? (doesn't need to be an expensive one)
I'm a foreigner is Serbia, and i plan to go to Kosovo with my serb-plated company car. Is it dangerous?

Hi there! ;o)

Sorry for not answering earlier.
I think you shouldn't go to Kosovo with licencplates from Serbia. That's a certain thing.

Try Gracanica!
Everything else seems to be burned to the ground!

Keep in touch!
Pedja

KonstantinII,

I strongly disagree with you. I have lived in Pristina now for over 18 months, my vehicle has Serbian number plates (KV disignation) and I travel to Belgrade often. I have never had any problems. It's parked here in Pristina every night.

Your comment that "Everything else seems to be burned to the ground!" couldn't be further from the truth. Yes, in March there were many problems here and some houses, churches and other places were burnt but the destruction is not near the extent you're implying.

As for a place to stay, you can try Grand Hotel (expensive), Hotel Illiria (cheap but rooms aren't so nice), or Hotel Pristina (moderate, nice rooms, good atmosphere). If you're still worried about your company vehicle, these places all have private parking with security 24 hours a day. enjoy!

"Yes, in March there were many problems here and some houses, churches and other places were burnt but the destruction is not near the extent you're implying."
SOME?!
You are sooo funny!
You expect an answer?

"SOME houses, churches and other places were burnt..."!?!?!?!? SOME!? SOrry, but isn't it stupid you said?

Hi,

thank you very much for your reply.
Finally i did it this weekend.
I went with my car (serb plates (PN), + YU).
I had absolutely no problem there. I parked my car in the center of Pristina.
I was inspired to take my bike with me in the car, so i could enjoy freedom in that very crowded traffic.
This was my first visit in Kosovo, and i visited only Pristina. I think there's much more to see around, but next time.

thanks again,
Zoltan

Zoltan, which hotel did you finally choose? Do you recommend it to other travellers?

My initial plan was to stay over the weekend.
But nobody of my collegues wanted to join me on this trip. (i think mostly from preconception) So , finally after biking around whole day, i packed and returned in the evening. After all , there's not too much fun to have anything exciting, if you cannot share with friends. (like another mate from VirtualTourist noticed) I know that i'll return to Kosovo (perhaps not in Pristina) so nothing is lost.

Thanks for the very prompt reply!!!

Well, I'm going to Kosovo in 3 weeks, hope I can come back with the same enthusiasm.
I will be visiteing some sites under the constant protection of KFOR.
Not much bikeing around for me I guess.

Take care.

Konstantin,

please post some impressions after you return. Perhaps i can inspire , for the next trips.
About 'enthusiasm": Pristina appeared as a normal, quite place. I would say "Business as usual".

I know Zoltan,
I would have guessed so, but it's hard not to react emotionaly when Kosovo is a topic.
There are several refuge camps around my home town. 200 000 non-albanians (mostly Serbs) got out of Kosovo (mostly Pristina) in 1999. and they (for some reason) don't feel safe enough to return to their homes, and those who want to don't have anywhere to return to.
The ones that stayed in Kosovo are under constant protection of KFOR.
So, it's bothering (for me) when someone says that Pristina is a free town or something like that.
It is a "clean" town.
I won't be going to Pristina and I hope everything goes as planned and I actually take the trip to other parts of Kosovo.
Hope I'll get some fresh info about the heritage in Kosovo, cause many things (120 churches and monastaries) were destroyed during the last 5 years (especialy in March this year).

Hope you understand my reaction,
Take care!
Pedja

P.S. I have met several Albanian friends that were born in Kosovo, and I don't have anything against any ethnic group in general (especialy those people who suffered so much) but the system created in Kosovo is worrying.

Dear Pedja,

please understand my attitude : i am a foreigner in serbia, (since nov 2002) working for a big company. I heard many things about Kosovo and what happened there, so i wanted to see with my eyes.
My impression was, as i described it. (With the eyes of somebody not so involved emotionally) Unfortunately i couldn't speak with anybody (although i tried), because they have difficulties speaking english, and i avoided to use the few serbian words i know. So my impressions are only visual , without really understanding what is under the apparent tranquility.
I don't know what was before, but i haven't heard anybody speaking serb language, during the whole day. Exclusively Albanian.

hi there,
sorry for late responde to your question. I agree and disagree at the same time with Pedja. btw, i am an albanian forced to move from my home by the serbs after nov2000. anyway, if u decide to visit prishtina and kosovo again pls feel free to let me know and i'll show u around .
tina

Thanks Tina,

as a matter of fact, i have in plans another visit to Kosovo. (perhaps on other places than Pristina)
I'll let you know when it will happen. Any advice is welcome,

Zoltan

Hi Tina! ;o)

Well, first I should say that my trip to Kosovo (this year) is more and more in question every day. It's personal, not global problems that are in the way.

And then, I'm sorry for asking this (I know it must be really hard), but I was curious, since you mentioned it, what do you mean Serbs made you leave your home "after Nov 2000", where did you live?

All the best from Belgrade,
Pedja

Hi Pedja,
I am glad to hear that you are planing to come to Kosova and i am encouraging you to do so.If you need any assistance with arranging your travel pls let me know.
To answer to your question,I lived for 20 years in Mitrovica, north to the river Iber. I don't have to tell u what i and my family suffered during the war.When the war was finished and serbs take over the controll of this part of town(allthough French army was situated here) they made me and my family ,as well as other albanian families, to run away from my home. This was november 1999 and after 5 years i still live away from my home and never had chance to step into my town and my home since then. I know that a serb family is resident in my house since then.
Now i live in Prishtina.Pls, don't take this personaly.
all the best ,
tina

Of course I'm not takeing it personaly.

I can understand how dificult it must be to experience something like that.
My brother and his family were exiled from Bosnia and were in Serbia during the war in Bosnia.
My family (here in Serbia) gave shelter to a muslim/orthodox family from Bosnia for some time during the war in Bosnia.

When the war is over things tend to return to their normal natural pace and ways.
More than 200 000 Serbs are "waiting" in other Serbian parts to return to their homes in Kosovo.
I understand that North Mitrovica is like a getho and hope that it will change soon so that your family can return to their home and that people that have ocupied your home will be able to return to their home too.

I'm not sure how realistic my wishes are, but I want to believe it's gonna happen.

I'm afraid that the lack of WILL and lack of REASON on both sides, Kosovo Albanians and Serbs from Kosovo and rest of Serbia, is present in "atempts" to find the solution to this (which is not something new, it has been happening for decades).
Unfortunately people (Serbs, Albanians, Gipsies, Goranci, Montenegro Serbs...) they all suffer while someone ellse wants to make sure that they do not succeed.
Hope I didn't overdo with this post. ;o)
All the best from Belgrade!

Pedja

Hi everybody!

I just read all your comments to the KOSOVO-subject.
It's somehow funny for me. I'm a German Police-Officer who is a member of the United Nation Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) since November 2003. It means I was present during the riots in March and I made my own experiences in this "country".

But what I like to mention here is that I'm very happy to see that people from different ethnic groups (Albanians and Serbians) can come together so easily if they are open minded enough. In what the UN didn't succeed after 5 years, you, I mean especially Konstantin and (KonstanTINA) made it possible through VT, immediately you are able to discuss about these things without insulting and discriminating each other. I appreciate that behaviour and for Kosovo I wish that the people here finally learn from you and start to comunicate without all this hate in their hearts and brains, but I really doubt that this is possible in the nearest future (perhaps later, regarding the new generation).
You made a good start, my respect and please continue in that way!

Greetings to all of you, Nina from Viti-na, Region Gnjilane, KOSOVO

Hi Nina and Pedja,
I apologize for turning vt forum to a political one as this wasn't my intention. I respect the right of others to return to their homes and i work for that every day for last 5 years. In my opinion, everyone should accept the reality of new Kosova and start rebuiliding their lifes with new enviroment. Of course is not easy to do so, but running away and closing themselves in gettos is not a valid solution. People from all sides have to start to think with their hads and cool down the emotions and let the politiciants earn their money with other tihngs not with our lifes.It is too precious to let other manipulate with our future.
all the best
t
p.s. Nina , if you're going to visit prishtina pls let me know, maybe we can meet for cup of coffe

Hi Tina,

You are so right! I don't like to see how the people here are suffering because of some crazy politicians.

I look forward to met you in the nearest future in Prishtine. At the moment I don't know when I will be there the next time but I will surely let you know.

See you,
Nina.

P.S.: OK, this is not a politics-forum, but I think if it helps people to come together it must be possible that we can speak here also about such things. If somebody don't like it, he can ignore or delete it immediately. It's not an obligation to read it!

"everyone should accept the reality of new Kosova and start rebuiliding their lifes with new enviroment."

This is a very poor thought and I have heard it so many times from so many people that represent one side in Kosovo.
I wasn't talking about sides when I was talking about all people that live in Kosovo, I WAS however talking about sides when I talked about the politic "ellite" and their (ir)responsibility.
So, I haven't said a word that could represent a POLITICAL judgement, I'm afraid that in the sentence I quoted I recognise something that was created not in your mind, but a dangerous implant said thousands of times. That kind of thought does not help the people to live in peace, does not help bring democracy to any comunity and cerainly does not help you and the people in North Mitrovica and 200 000 Serbs in rest of the Serbia to return to their homes in Kosovo.

Just another thought, GETHO is not something you decide to make for yourself, it's something that is inflicted upon you.

I think I've done my best not to turn this in to a politic topic, cause I never spoke about politics but about life in some destination that many "adventurers" consider a great tourist spot (not knowing anything about it), which it can be.

And in some wierd poetic way the topic that
Thorenburg accidently created not even thinking about what this forum may turn into, was maybe the greatest question of all!
And when many people in Kosovo (incuding you Tina) are still asking their selves "Where to spend a night in Pristina ?" (or Kosovo) then how can anyone say "everyone should accept the reality of new Kosova and start rebuiliding their lifes with new enviroment."?

It is far from a comunity anyone should agree to live in and yet just accept it as it is.

With a great wish not to turn this "talk" in to something that is not worth of this beautiful web site, I think this is my last post concidering this topic.
We can always continue via VTmail if anyone wants.

Pedja (Belgrade)

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
~~ Attributed to Voltaire

Sorry guys, I din't take a part in discussion but I just want to inform you that the name of the southern Serbian province is KosovO and METOHIJA.
So, the name of the first part is with the "O" on the end. Not with the "A".
The name of the second part means "the property of the church - METOH" which indicate to whom the land belong.
The capitol of KosovO is Pristina and the capitol of METOHIJA is Pec.
Thanks

Try and find on official docs Komet

http://ods-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N99/172/89/PDF/N9917289.pdf?OpenElement
t
p.s. kosovo in albanian is kosova

Yes, I found it in official documents:
http://www.srbija.sr.gov.yu/pages/article.php?id=57

no comment on serbian websites, if they are correct why the UN resolution ?!!! if i call u whatever and post on a website, would this be your legal name?
tina

And, what will happen if someone start to call Texas Texaco or something like that. Also, the name of the state is Bosnia and HERZEGOVINA. Not just Bosnia.
And believe it or not, Kosovo and Metohija is still part of Serbia and Montenegro.
So if it's too long to wrie full name of Serbia province you can put just K&M.
Alek.

no comment, u can belive whatever u want, this is called freedom of thinking and it is part of all constitutions or at least it sould be( it is part os KOSOVA constitutional framework)

Yeah! I saw it a month ago in Pristina. When I asked a guy how much sun glasess coasts (in Serbian) he answered me: " One hundred Euros, and for you TWO hundreds".